Energy Labels Explained

ENERGY LABELS

All European manufacturers and retailers must tell you about the energy efficiency of certain household electrical appliances such as fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens and light bulbs.

One of the main aims of the EU Energy Label is to help householders make informed decisions about the purchase of energy-consuming appliances.

The label provides clear and easily recognisable information about the energy consumption and performance of products and must be attached visibly to new appliances displayed for sale. An important part of an energy label is the energy efficiency rating scale, which provides a simple index of the product’s efficiency from ‘A’ (the most efficient) to ‘G’ (the least efficient).

The energy consumption figure shows you the units of electricity use in kWh to allow comparisons between models.

The new A+ and A++ ratings for fridges and freezers

Since July 2004 the existing energy efficiency rating category of A for household fridges and freezer appliances has been divided into 3 new categories (A, A+ and A++).

The A+ and A++ fridges and freezers present exceptional energy efficiency levels – all are at least 25% more efficient than basic Class A models. Some A++ models are as much as 60% better in terms of their efficiency

CLIMATE CLASSES

All Fridges, freezers, and fridge-freezers are all designed to operate in specific temperature ranges (these are known as 'climates').

The chances are if you place a fridge or a freezer in a kitchen or in a separate room inside your house, which are the most popular places, it is very likely that it will operate as intended. Though DO NOT place it next to any heat source, i.e cooker, radiator etc.

Many people use an outside building such as a shed, garage or outhouse to place their freezers and fridge freezers. This may mean that your appliance is trying to work outside the temperature range it was intended for and this could cause problems.

All fridges, freezers and fridge freezers are indicated with a CLIMATE CLASS(S) that they operate in. These are listed below:

Appliances are intended to be used at an ambient temperature between X [lowest temperature] °C and Y [highest temperature] °C’